M-1 Rail's tech center under construction

Named for civic leader Roger Penske, who is chairman of M-1 Rail, the $6.9-million Tech Center is already under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

M-1 RAIL has released conceptual renderings of the nearly 19,000 square feet Penske Tech Center facility in Detroit, where the streetcar's technology systems, vehicles and operations team will be based.(Photo: M-1 Rail)

Story Highlights

The M-1 RAIL team has released architectural renderings of the 19,000-square-foot Penske Tech Center, the operational center of the streetcar line that is now under construction on Woodward Avenue toward a late 2016 opening.

The Penske Tech Center is where M-1 Rail's computer and communications systems, its vehicle maintenance, and its operations team will be based. The Tech Center will be located on between Bethune and Custer Streets north of Grand Boulevard, at the northern end of the 3.3-mile streetcar line.

"We have communicated extensively with the residents and business owners from the neighborhood where the Tech Center will be located, and their input has been invaluable in making sure that the new Tech Center becomes a vibrant part of the community," said Paul Childs, Chief Operating Officer, M-1 RAIL. "From the types of vegetation we use on the grounds, to the building's actual design and location on the property, the voices from the community have given M-1 RAIL terrific guidance."

Named for civic leader Roger Penske, who is chairman of M-1 Rail, the $6.9-million Tech Center is already under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

M-1 RAIL has released conceptual renderings of the nearly 19,000 square feet Penske Tech Center facility in Detroit, where the streetcar's technology systems, vehicles and operations team will be based.(Photo: M-1 Rail)

The Design/Build Team for the Tech Center includes Turner Construction Company, 3.L.K. Construction, ABE Associates, Inc., and RNL.

Childs said that the design of the center incorporates several recommendations from neighbors and community leaders. Among those: The Tech Center building will be sited closer to Woodward Avenue with the streetcar storage behind; and the exterior will be made of reddish brick to mimic the historical look and feel of the surrounding neighborhood.

Nearly 60% of the subcontractors hired by the Design/Build Team to construct the Tech Center are Detroit-based, minority-based or woman-owned companies. M-1 has a goal of hiring 51% of its construction workers from among Detroit residents.

Contact John Gallagher: 313-222-5173 or gallagher@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @jgallagherfreep.

The Tech Center will be located between Bethune and Custer Streets, at the northern end of the 3.3 mile modern streetcar system.(Photo: M-1 Rail)